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ON PATH TO PRIESTHOOD
Seminarian becomes candidate

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
(Email Renee)

Seated in the second row of the Cathedral of the Epiphany, David Esquiliano rose to his feet and stood before the bishop when he was called by name.

Bishop R. Walker Nickless administered the Rite of Admission to Candidacy upon the diocesan seminarian during the May 23 Spanish Mass.

“Our brother stands here today in the presence of the church, recommended to us and to you for admission among the candidates for holy orders,” said the bishop.

Urged on by his love and strengthened by the Holy Spirit, Bishop Nickless said the seminarian came to declare in public his desire to bind himself to the service of God and of mankind.

Prior to administering the rite, Bishop Nickless said it was his privilege as bishop to receive the seminarian in a formal way as a candidate who recognized his call by God and he thanked Esquiliano for his courage to leave his native country of Mexico for ministry in Iowa.

“I am grateful for your willingness to fulfill the mission of Christ,” the bishop said. “We pray that after your candidacy today, that you will be filled with the Holy Spirit, be solid and firm in your decision to follow the Lord … and one day be ordained a priest of our diocese.”

Bishop Nickless was in choir for the liturgy that was celebrated by Father William Vit and concelebrated by Father Brad Pelzel and Father Matthew Hewitt.

In addition to administering the rite, the bishop also confirmed five Hispanic adults during the service.

A native of Mexico, Esquiliano came to the diocese in February of 2006 and officially became a seminarian in July of 2007. Since that time, he completed pre-theology at Conception Seminary College in Conception, Mo.

“I’m now a step closer,” said the seminarian. “I’m following what I believe God wants me to do.”

He was pleased that the rite was held during the Spanish Mass, “because I’m part of the Hispanic community and I wanted to share this moment with them.”

Making this public commitment, Esquiliano said he has spent much time in prayer and he truly believes that God is calling him to the priesthood.

Father Brad Pelzel, diocesan director of vocations, explained that when a man goes through this rite “he is giving himself over in his studies and all of his preparation to become a priest of the diocese.”

The time in which the rite is administered, he noted, depends on the seminary that the seminarian attends. Two of the seminaries attended by diocesan seminarians – North American College and St. John Vianney in Denver - prefer this rite to be done prior to the start of the major seminary studies, but the majority of American seminaries have this rite between the second and third years of major seminary.

Those who have gone through this rite, noted Father Pelzel, have the right to wear clerical clothing.

“Seminaries that require the men to wear clerical clothing during formation, have them go through the rite before they arrive,” he explained.

The North American College in Rome does require seminarians to wear clerical dress. On July 19, Esquiliano will leave for Rome to attend the North American College. These major seminary studies will take four to five years.

“David is being sent to Rome with the intention that besides studying for the priesthood, he will get his degree in Canon Law also,” said Father Pelzel, who noted that eventually it would mean the Hispanic priest could work in the Tribunal. “He was selected to go to Rome because he showed a talent for languages that would serve him well in that capacity.”

The vocations director mentioned that one other diocesan seminarian, Mauro Sanchez, is also entering major seminary studies this year. He is attending St. Meinrad Seminary, which doesn’t require wearing of the clerical dress.

“If anyone thinks he might be called to the priesthood, I think they should give it a try,” said Esquiliano, who will be ordained in the summer of 2014 if things go as planned. Sanchez is also slated for ordination at that time.